Pedestal. Position. Above. High-ups. Exclusive. These are some words to describe “Leadership”. Leaders lead from the front. They blaze a trail. Followers follow the trail. Some other familiar phrases are- “Not everybody can lead but nearly everybody can follow”.
“A leader’s success is defined by how big his followership is”. The traditional perception of what a leader is still prevails. The imagery of a leader sitting on top of a company, creating magic strategies is ingrained in our minds. He leads the teams. He inspires the stakeholders. He performs. He delivers. All this is true. Mostly, but not totally. Leaders can get carried away by this role imagery. They are flattered by the description of being “a cut above the rest”. They are swayed by the salutations given by the staff. They are pumped up by the head of the table seat. These are all perks that go with a rank that places you above many others. These are positions that ensure authority over others. These are also ego feeders. These are also reality cut offs. These are also mindset distorters.
To think that leadership and followership are mutually exclusive is incorrect. In fact, it is a dangerous mindset. It encourages behaviours that lead to distance and disconnect. The Pied Piper blowing his pipe has supported this style of leadership. The lone shepherd herding the sheep has been taken literally by the leaders. Many leaders feel they have the authority to browbeat all wayward team members. This imagery is misleading. Human beings hate being treated as sheep. While the sheep might respond to the command of the shepherd, humans may rebel. The organizational chart is another thought polluter. With the top box being occupied by the top guy, it takes for granted that the people below will “look up”. In return, the leader has the choice of “looking down” at the people below him. To lead authentically and impactfully leaders need to follow many things:
Rule No # 1— Leaders must follow principles and values-Principles and values govern the process, not people. A leader who is not following the values he has set for his company is not a leader. This is a fundamental problem. In my experience of working with leaders, the fact that they are placed above the team in rank and file makes them feel that all behaviours are for the team to follow. Most CEOs take a strict account of team punctuality but come late to the office. Most companies talk about equality but let their leaders have unequal advantage. Remember, the words written or spoken are meaningless if they are not embodied in the behaviour of the people at the top. As small a thing as elevators causes disbelief in people. In one of the companies I was working with, the team told me “We talk about equality, look at how our CEO has an express lift to reach the 12th floor and how we have wait and wait for our turn to take the ordinary elevator to reach the same floor”. This may seem cribbing. This is damaging. Leaders must follow the values and principles they want their team to follow. Imagine trying to teach your child the value of honesty, while asking your child to tell the person on the gate that you are not at home. Rule#1 thus is if you do not follow principles values, followers will not follow you.
Rule No #2— Leaders must follow role models- In my coaching sessions one big insight I get is when I ask people who their role model is. You would be surprised at how many leaders are reluctant to name another person as their role model. Most will talk about a family member or some illustrious figure. The reluctance in having role models means that their thinking is set on themselves as the ultimate role model. Another insight is that people who find it difficult to be inspired are more rigid and self-focused. On the other hand, leaders cannot be these impressionable people who get impressed by most things. Having role models means the leader is willing to learn and improve. He has the humility to accept that there are better people than him who can teach him better things. The role models can be younger, older, male, female, within the industry, outside the industry etc. For example, one of the most inspiring thing about a leader I am coaching is how he has taken inspiration on the team management from a junior manger and constantly seeks his advice to groom him on motivating the team. Rule #2 thus is that if you do not have role models you may be a model but not a role model.
Rule No #3— Leaders must follow the followers-The common perception of leading from the front is a bit misleading. The leader has to make sure he is not just front focused. The leader has to know the followers. The followers may be the team. The followers may be the customers. The followers may be the suppliers. The leader has to follow their thoughts. The leader has to follow their problems. The leader has to follow their happiness. A very senior leader I know was such a person. When he left the company people cried. One gardener told me that once he was on leave as his grandmother died. On his return, the leader came to him and condoled with him telling him how he knew that he had been brought up by her. Another very respected leader’s suppliers told me about how he would send him his favourite kheer on occasions. The leader has to follow the trends his followers are following. Rule No#3, thus is leaders who do not follow what the followers are following, will soon have few followers.
Following the followers seems easy, it is not. It requires fundamental changes in set minds, i.e., mindset. It means admitting to yourself that the images we carry need some correction. It means changing the imagery that has been spoon fed in our brains for centuries. The imagery of the knight in the shining armour galloping away far ahead is fine but is interpreted mostly as this brave-all, know-all man who is superhuman. This fascination caused by the Superman fantasy has actually made leaders cut away from the essence of leadership. The essence of leadership is not just to tell but to ask too. Not just to speak but to listen too. Not just to impress but be inspired too. Not just to rise but to bend too. As C S Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
The writer is a columnist, consultant, coach, and an analyst and can be reached at andleeb.abbas1@gmail.com